Vehicle-jack.



No. 777,898. PATENTED DEG.13,1904: L. A. GASGRAIN.

VEHICLE JACK.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 7. 1904.

N0 MODEL. s-gmnn'r 1.

No. 777,398. IATENTE'D DEC. 18, 1904. L. A. GASGRAIN.

VEHICLE JACK.

APPLIUATION FILED MAR.7.190.

no MODEL. 2 nmswnma'r '2.

NITED S'rnrns Patented December 13, 1904.

ATENT Oriucn.

VEl'llCLE-dACKu SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No.777,398, dated December 13, 1904.

Application filed March '7, 190a.

To (all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Louis A. UAsenAin, a citizen of the United States,residing at Vinchester, in the county of Middlesex and State ofMassachusetts, have invented an Improvement in Vehicle-Jacks, of whichthe following description, in connection with the accompanying drawings,is a specification, like letters on the drawings representing likeparts.

This invention has for its object the production of a novel vehicle-jackby which to support free of the floor all the wheels of the vehicle.

My invention has been devised more especially for jacking up vehicleshaving indiarubber tires, it being very beneficial to remove the Weightof the vehicle from the tires when not in use, and this is a matter ofvery considerable importance with very heavy vehiclesas, for instance,"automobiles.

My novel jack is so constructed that the vehicle as it comes intoposition above the jack will be automatically lifted by the impact ofthe vehicle against a portion of the jack, the momentum of the vehiclefully operating the jack to lift the wheel of the vehicle from thefloor. Preferably the momentum of the carriage will move a portion ofthe jack over a center, which movement will maintain the jack members insuch position as to prevent any back movement of the jack and vehicledue to the weight of the vehicle until the latter is started backwardlymanually.

Figure 1, in side elevation, shows my vehicle-jack in one of the bestforms now known to me in its inoperative or closed position and justready to be moved by a vehicle traveling longitudinally of the jack.Fig. 2 shows the jack being somewhat moved by the impact of the vehicleand having lifted the wheels of the latter from the floor, and Fig. 3 isa plan view, of my novel jack. I i

Referring to the drawings, A represents a base composed, preferably, ofmetal tubing, the same being shaped substantially as represented in Fig.3, wherein it will be seen that the base is made up of a series ofpieces of pipe a a (t at, that constitute the sides of the base, saidpieces of pipe being shown as united at the sides of the base by meansof a double- Serial No. 196,807. (No model.)

ended threaded sleeve rt", engaging the right and left hand threadedends of the respective rods (6 It a (0 By turning these, sleeves thelengtl'i of the base may be changed to adapt it to the length of thevehicle to be jacked. The portion of the base that is first traveledover by the oncoming vehicle, which may be an automobile or any otherrubber-tired vehicle, is represented as rounded, as at (6 a, such shapeserving, if necessity requires, as fenders agz'tinst which the wheels ofthe vehicle may strike and move the base laterally on the floor topermit the oncoming vehicle to straddle the base, even though thevehicle fails to come squarely onto the base in straddling the same. Thebase, of whatever form, is united by like cross-bars (/7, (shown in Fig.3,) preferably also composed of metal tubing, the ends of which arepinned or otherwise secured to like arms ct", connected by suitablebolts a toears a, secured to and projecting inwardly from the side tubesof the base.

When the base occupies its inoperative position on a stable or otherfloor, it will be sustained by antifriction-rolls b of the caster form,the yokes 7) sustaining the pivots for the wheels of the castersswiveling on suitable projections Z), connected with theunder side ofthe base. These casters permit of a slight movement of the base on thefloor should the wheels of the vehicle in coming onto the jack to belifted strike the fenders; but these casters become inoperative themoment the jack is operated by the oncoming vehicle.

To prevent the base from being moved unduly forward or out of properposition by an oncoming vehicle, I preferably connect to a part of thejack one or more springs I), one end of which is attached to aprojection 7)", although the spring is not absolutely necessary. Thespring also acts as a registering means to return the base into properposition after the vehicle has been removed therefrom.

The hollow or tubular cross-bars 21,113 surrounded by tubes ct" a,whichhave connected with them hubs c c of movable feet (Z d, made inpairs, two located at or near each end of the base. 'lhese feet arerepresented in Figs. 1 and 2 as having their acting ends to contact withthe floor at different inclinations or distances from their center ofmotion, one of the portions of the feet being represented by (Z and theother by (Z Fig. 1 shows the feet in their normal inoperative position,and it will be seen that the portions 6Z3 lie nearer the floor (Z thanthe portions cl", and viewing Fig. 2 it will be seen that the portions(Z stand on the floor. To do this, (Z first contacts with the floor, andas the base is moved to the left from position Fig. 1 into the positionFig. 2 the impact of the carriage, as will be described, turns the feetinto the full-line position, Fig. 2, which results in lifting thevehicle. The particular shape given to the acting ends of the feet isimmaterial so long as the turning of the feet in contact with the floorwill cause the base to be lifted.

The rear and front feet (Z cl receive at their upper ends pivots 6' 6 onwhich, are-mounted to swing or turn suitable axle-sustainers 6 6 thelower ends of which have, as shown, tubular portions e, that receiveconnectingrods 6, so that one of said sustainers may be moved from theother. The sustainer 6* is represented as shaped differently from thesustainer (a -6. e. the sustainer a has an extended finger 6 which islonger than the finger a there being a space 6 left between saidfingers. The sustainer c has a substantially hori- Zontal surface 6 witha slightly-upturned lip 6 Each sustainer will preferably have connectedtherewith a non-metallic surface, as e e, to prevent marring of the partof the axle.

Assuming that an automobile or other vehicle is to be jacked and thatthe jack is resting upon the floor, as represented in Fig. 1,

' the automobile will be moved forward over and to straddle the jack,and should the wheels of the automobile as the latter comes intoposition to straddle the jack occupy an angular position, as representedby dotted lines, Fig. 3, then the wheels by striking the fender portions of the base will slightly move the same, so that the automobile(or it might be other vehicle) will come squarely onto the base of thejack which is to be moved to lift the vehicle from the floor. Assumingnow that the v ehicle has been moved forwardly and has straddled thejack and has arrived in the position Fig. l, where the axle, it may be,of the vehicle meets the longer finger e of the axle-sustainers, theimpact of the axle against the longer finger immediately moves thesustainer 6* forwardly or to the right, and in so doing through the rod6 carries forwardly the sustainer 6 The momentum of the vehicle afterstriking the fingers e is resisted by the springs 6 and as thesustainers are moved forwardly, due to the momentum of the carriage, thepivoted feet are turned in the direction of the arrows near them, Fig.1, so that the portions d thereof immediately contact with the floor,thus removing the casters from the floor, and this movement is continueduntil the feet occupy the position shown in Fig. 2, wherein it will 'beseen that a vertical line dropped through the pivotal points 0' c hasbeen carried forward of the heel portion cZ of each foot, and stops 9 g,carried, respectively, by the sustainers e and 6, meet the rear edges ofthe feet to check any further movement of the base and the feet. In thisposition it will be noticed that the axle-sustainers are risen from theposition Fig. 1 into the position Fig. 2 and have by contact with theaxle lifted the wheels 20 of the vehicle, which are supposed to haveindia-rubber tires, from contact with the fioor, and in this conditionthe vehicle may be left for any desired time jacked up and the weight ofthe vehicle removed from the tire. When so jacked, the vehicle may beinspected in any and all parts and its condition ascertained beforetaking it off from the jack.

To prevent any possibility of the vehicle being thrown off the jack bycarelessness, especially when it is desired to remove a wheel, I haveprovided each of the vehicle-sustainers with an eye, in which I mayinsert a pin it, that will cross one side of the foot and retain thefoot in its upright position, so that under no condition could the sameturn and let the axle drop.

T o discharge the vehicle from the jack, it is only necessary to pushthe same backwardly or by stepping on the base, which throws the weightof the person back of the centers or axes of the feet, that causes thebase and the vehicle both to bernoved, for instance, toward the left,Fig. 2, into the position Fig. 1, letting the wheels contact with thefloor, when the vehicle may be readily moved off the jack.

I believe that I am the first to construct a jack that may be made toact automatically to lift a vehicle from the floor by or through impactof the vehicle against a portion of the jack, and whereas I prefer thatthe axle of the vehicle may strike a longer arm of the axlesustainercoacting with the front axle of the vehicle, yet this invention is notlimited to any particular part of the jack that will be struck by theoncoming vehicle, nor is the invention limited to the sustainerscontacting only with the axles, as said sustainers might meet any partof the running-gear to lift the-wheels from contact with the fioor.

The axle-sustainers really constitute vehicle-lifters, the latter beingmounted on feet adapted to be turned as the framework of the jack ismoved longitudinally, the turning of the feet causing the lifting meansto rise and contact with the running-gear to remove the wheels fromcontact with the floor. It will therefore be understood that myinvention is not limited to the exact construction of the so-calledvehicle-lifters or, axle-sustainers or to the exact shape shown for thefeet or their point of junction with the base, I considering as withinthe scope of my invention any construction of jack that would includethe subject-matter described in this specification and pointed out inthe claims at the end thereof. I also believe that I am the first to sosustain a jack of any description upon the floor that an oncomingvehicle will be free to move the jack in one or the other direction toproperly centralize the jack with relation to the running-gear, andwhile I have shown the fenders as being concaved at their exterior itwill be understood that they might be diflerently shaped and beveled andyet perform the functions herein described for them without departingfrom my invention.

I have described the jack as being moved automatically by the impact ofthe oncoming carriage; but it will be obvious, should one desire, thatthe jack may be shoved under a carriage in a stationary position andforce enough applied to it to cause it to lift the vehicle, and a leveror otherwise might be used; but this form or manner of using myinvention would in a great measure destroy its chief value.

Having described my invention, what i claim, and desire to secure byLetters Patent, 1s

1. A vehicle-jack comprising a base, pairs of vehicle-lifting means, andmeans for sustaining the same, longitudinal movement of the base withrelation to the vehicle to be lifted causing the vehicle-lifting meansto contact with the vehicle and lift the same.

2. A V8l1iCl6jtLCl( comprising a base, pairs of vehicle-lifting means,one of which has an extension, the movement of said lifting meanslongitudinally with relation to the base causing said lifting means tobe moved vertically to lift the vehicle from the floor.

3. A vehicle-jack comprising pairs of vehicle-lifting means movable bycontact of the vehicle therewith, the lifting means contacting with andlifting the vehicle to remove its wheels from the floor.

4. A vehicle-jack comprising a frame having aseries of feet pivotedthereto, pairs of vehicle-lifting means carried by said feet and movableby the coming of the vehicle over the jack to cause said feet to beturned and the lifting means to be raised to contact with the vehicleand lift the weight of the vehicle and its tires from the floor.

5. A vehicle-jack comprising a base having a series of feet normallyoccupying an inoperative position with relation to the base, and aplurality of vehicle-lifting means carried by said feet, the oncoming ofa vehicle to straddle said base causing the lifting means to be moved onor with relation to the feet, thus turning the feet to rock over thefloor and lift the vehicle.

6. A vehicle-jack comprising a base, two pairs of axle-sustainersoccupying normally a position distant from the floor lower than theunder side of the axles of said vehicle, means to connect said pairs ofaxle-sustainers, one of said pairs having an extension against which theaxle ofthe vehicle will contact as the latter comes into liftingposition above the base, the pair of said axle-sustainers to be struckby the vehicle moving the complemental pair and lifting the vehicle withrelation to the base. i

7. A vehiclejack comprising a base, two pairs of axle-sustainersoccupying normally a position distant from the fioor lower than theunder side of the axles of said vehicle, movable means connected withsaid base and supporting said axle-sustainers, means to connect saidpairs of axle-sustainers, one of said pairs having an extension againstwhich the axle of the vehicle will contact as the latter comes intolifting position above the base, the pair of said axle-sustainers to bestruck by the vehicle moving the complemental pair and lifting thevehicle with relation to the base.

8. A vehicle-jack comprising a base shaped to constitute a fender thatmay be moved by contact of the wheels of an oncoming vehicle tocentralize the base with relation to the vehicle to be lifted.

9. A vehicle-jack comprising a base shaped to constitute a fender, andvehicle lifting means thereon occupying normally an inoperative positionand actuated by the oncoming vehicle and rendered operative to lift thevehicle from the floor.

10. A vehicle-jack comprising a base having a portion thereof shaped toconstitute a fender, and casters sustaining said base.

' 11. A vehicle-jack comprising a base having a portion thereof shapedto constitute a fender. and casters sustaining said base, feet connectedwith said base,vehicle-lifting means sustained by said feet, the turningof the feet to cause the vehicle-lifting means to contact with and liftthe vehicle removing the casters from the floor.

12. A vehicle-jack comprisinga base shaped to constitute a fender, thesides of the base having means whereby the length of the base can bealtered to the length of the vehicle to be jacked.

13. A vehicle-jack comprising a base, and springs to connect said basewith the floor.

14:. A vehicle-jack comprising a base connected by rods, and sleevesapplied to said. rods, said sleeves having connected with them feet, aplurality of vehicle lifting means mounted on said feet, and means forconnecting said vehicle-lifting means at one end of the base with thevehicle-lifting means at the other end of the base, the longitudinalmovement of the vehicle-lifting means causing the feet to be turned onthe base and the base to be lifted together with the vehicleliftingmeans.

15. A vehicle-jack comprising hollow tub- ITO ing bent to present at oneend a buffer against which wheels may contact.

16. A vehicle-jack comprising hollow tubing bent to present at one end afender against which wheels may contact, the side portions of the basebeing longitudinally adjustable.

17 A vehicle-jack comprising a base, movable feet sustained thereby,vehicle lifting means mounted on said feet and having stops to contactwith said feet when the latter and the vehicle-lifting means occupytheir operative position.

18. A vehicle-jack comprising a base, movable feet sustained thereby,vehicle lifting means mounted on said feet and having stops

